The highly anticipated start of the Ashes series was met with a wave of disappointment, not just for England's performance on the pitch, but for the television coverage provided by TNT Sports. The broadcaster's inaugural day of action from Perth was widely panned by viewers, who took to social media to brand the production a 'poor product' and a 'travesty'.
A Wave of Viewer Discontent
Irritated cricket fans voiced their frustrations in large numbers across various social media platforms. A primary complaint centred on the fact that some of the lead commentators were not present in Australia. This led to the jarring experience of hearing broadcasters say 'good morning' to each other while the match was being played in the Australian afternoon. The broadcast rights for this prestigious Test series were secured by TNT Sports after Sky Sports showed little interest in bidding for what is often considered the jewel in Test cricket's crown.
One disgruntled fan wrote online: 'Actually grateful that they've killed my enthusiasm this early. I can go back to pretending the series isn't happening for the next couple of months. Cricket on TNT Sports isn't real, it can't hurt you.' Another supporter added, 'Just inexcusable coverage from TNT. The biggest cricket series in the world and you employ two non-cricket commentators as your main two guys, who aren't even in Australia. Genuinely astonished how they ever thought it would go down well.'
Technical and Production Shortcomings
A more detailed critique was offered by another poster, who highlighted a series of technical issues while taking a more forgiving stance towards the on-air pundits themselves. The user pointed out a lack of an Australian voice in the commentary box, reduced crowd noise, a long broadcast delay behind the live action, and a general lack of on-the-ground insight. To illustrate the latter point, they noted that bowler Mitchell Starc had been off the field with a potential injury for two overs without any mention from the commentary team.
While presenters like Sir Alastair Cook and Becky Ives were based in Australia, the lead commentators, Alastair Eykyn and Rob Hatch – neither of whom have extensive cricket commentary backgrounds – were broadcasting from the UK. Scott Young, executive vice-president at TNT's owners Warner Bros Discovery Sports Europe, had previously defended this approach, insisting that Eykyn and Hatch are 'huge cricket fans' and claiming viewers 'won't know' where commentators are located during live play.
Broadening the Audience and a Sartorial Side-Note
Young elaborated on the broadcaster's strategy, arguing that their coverage is an attempt to appeal to a broader demographic of viewers who may not typically watch cricket. 'That's why we're bringing many of our sports broadcasters into the fold,' he said. 'It's about bringing the football, rugby, even fight-sports fanbase, and making them aware of the Ashes as a moment in time. If we can get people who are not normally going to watch cricket for a day or a Test, then that's very much part of the TNT Sports ethos.'
Amidst the serious criticism, there were more light-hearted observations about former England captain Sir Alastair Cook's wardrobe. He stood out from his more casually dressed colleagues by wearing an impeccable suit, leading to comments that he 'looks like the kid on work experience who didn't realise it's a more casual office environment.' TNT Sports has held the broadcast rights for England's away Ashes series since the 2017-18 tour.
